SYRIA, VA: The new 35-foot span bridge across Cedar Run offers hikers and nature-loving community members improved access to the popular Whiteoak Canyon trailhead and opening up three miles of stream habitat to native fish for the first time in decades. The effort is a public-private partnership between Shenandoah National Park, The Piedmont Environmental Council, Trout Unlimited, and the local landowners, the Graves family.
Strong Communities
PEC believes that the work of protecting natural resources and the work of building better communities are integral to each other.
New bridge improves access to one of Shenandoah Park’s most unique trails
A new 35-foot span bridge across Cedar Run opened this week, offering hikers and nature-loving community members improved access to the popular Whiteoak Canyon trailhead and opening up three miles of stream habitat to native fish for the first time in decades. The effort is a public-private partnership between Shenandoah National Park, The Piedmont Environmental Council, Trout Unlimited, and the local landowners, the Graves family.
Ten Ways to Make your Business More Bike-Friendly
Many people tell us that they would like to bike to work. Although the roads themselves may be daunting often the problem lies at their destination–their place of employment. Happily, there are some simple things employers can do to make their businesses more bike-friendly.
A Dirty Secret: How Construction Waste is Making its Way Onto Rural Lands
Steve and Jennifer Rainwater’s world was turned upside down in 2017 when an access road was built along their property line and hundreds of dump trucks started arriving to dump dirt, non-stop, on a section of the property, behind their house. The new access road created runoff and flooding problems that damaged their pastures and a small pond that had provided fresh water for the horses. Although silt fences were used in places, they regularly collapsed and were generally ineffective. The view from their second floor has changed from woods to a never-ending construction site.
Greenways Plan Complete. Next Step: Implementation
Albemarle and Charlottesville reached an important milestone this spring when the Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan received final approval. This document maps a comprehensive network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared-use paths that connect Charlottesville and Albemarle neighborhoods to schools, shopping, downtown, and natural areas while also identifying bicycle connections to and among adjoining counties.
On The Ground – Fall 2019
Updates from around the PEC region, organized by county.
Connecting Community: A park and trail effort in Gordonsville
Parks, trails, and sidewalks help weave a community together. Simply put, when we are connected to gathering places, we become better connected to each other. A walkable town or neighborhood allows for a stronger ‘sense of place’ to develop. This notion is behind a collaborative effort led by The Piedmont Environmental Council, residents and local businesses in Gordonsville, Virginia. The energetic group and initiative are called Town to Trail.
Fauquier Considers Weakening Language in Rural Lands Plan
Over the last year, Fauquier has been working on an update to its Rural Lands Plan, a section of the County’s Comprehensive Plan that outlines land use policies in the rural areas. On Thursday, July 11 the Board of Supervisors is holding its second public hearing about the draft plan and will likely vote that night. We are encouraging them to vote to approve Version A.
Loudoun Comprehensive Plan update nears June 20 vote
Thanks to intense community involvement by residents in the Transition Policy Area (TPA) and across the County, the Board has backed off of the Planning Commission’s (PC) vision for the future of the TPA. Instead of the ~24,000 additional units that were included in the PC draft, it now appears that the maximum additional units would not exceed ~4200 units. This total does not subtract out land that would not be developed due to streets and sidewalks, and other public infrastructure.
Managing Fill Dirt and Debris Disposal in Rural Areas
As construction picks up in the region, many of our localities are struggling with fill dirt and inert debris dump sites popping up in rural areas. On May 29, 2019, The Piedmont Environmental Council partnered with the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and Rappahannock Rapidan Regional Commission to host a workshop on this complex issue. The agenda included speakers from PEC, NVRC, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.